The new cameras installed on Al Shamal Expressway.

By Joseph Varghese
Staff Reporter


Traffic discipline on Al Shamal Expressway has greatly improved after the installation of a new set of surveillance cameras, according to regular motorists on the route.
The Ministry of Interior has set up several such cameras on the busy road recently as part of a project called Talaa.
“Speeding and the illegal use of hard shoulders have declined heavily,” a motorist told Gulf Times yesterday. Attempts to overtake from the right are also significantly fewer compared to before.
“Earlier I used to be surrounded by cars,  trying to overtake me from different directions which used to be frightening. Now I can see that most of the  motorists are following the rules and driving cautiously,” said another commuter.
The Central Operations Department of National Command Centre, in association with General Directorate of Traffic and General Directorate of Information Systems (Security Systems Department), has set up several surveillance cameras at a long stretch of Al Shamal Expressway from the Midmac Roundabout. These cameras aim to monitor traffic violations and strengthen control over the roads.
The new cameras will monitor all kinds of traffic violations including not fastening seat-belts, talking on the phone or texting while driving, wrong overtaking, excessive speed, violating signals and other irregularities which pose a threat to public safety on the road.
All of them are smart cameras and can be controlled from the operations room and monitor violations by zooming in on vehicles and capturing the number plates and location.
A regular motorist on the expressway opined that rash driving has come down heavily due to the cameras. “Earlier everyone used to drive fast. They used to slow down abruptly just before the cameras and accelerate again once the area is crossed. But now I can see people driving at the legal speed without trying to overtake other vehicles.”
Another motorist observed that after the installation of the new cameras there is a discernible change in the behaviour of motorists from Midmac to Gharrafa overbridge. The drivers are more disciplined and careful and tailgating also has been reduced. But peak hours still witness heavy traffic which is a cause of concern.”
Several such cameras have been set up on some of the major roads in the areas including Al Sadd, Al Mirqab, Al Sailiya, Al Shafi, Bin Omran, D Ring Road,  Grand Hamad Street, Al Khor Mesaieed, Muaither and Umm Dawm, Shahaniya and Al Wakrah.